CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team will support the Eastern Illinois Foodbank during the weekends of the final two home series. Donation bins will be set out at Illinois Field on April 27-28 during the Northwestern series and May 11-12 during the Penn State series. Fans can support the cause by bringing food donations to the game, with the "Super Six" items being the food needed the most by the Foodbank.

The "Super Six" items include canned meats and fish, canned complete meals, canned beans and other vegetables, canned fruits, boxed meals, and peanut butter. They also accept toiletries, cleaning products, pet food and new or gently used backpacks. All donated food must be in its original form, meaning they cannot accept open cans, bags or containers of food. They are unable to accept homemade food or food in glass containers.

All donations will go to fight hunger in communities throughout 14 eastern Illinois counties (see side photo for map). The Foodbank provides free and very low cost food to more than 220 food pantries and other agencies and programs serving individuals and families struggling with hunger. These agencies and programs combined feed approximately 100,000 individuals a year, and 1 in every 4 of these clients is a child.

Collection bins will be placed outside Illinois Field under an orange canopy during the following four home games: vs. Northwestern on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28; vs. Penn State on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12. Volunteers will be stationed at the drop-off areas to collect donations.